AP: Pat Robertson: Pot should be legal like alcohol

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Figured a leader of the religious right saying this in such terms was newsworthy.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_PAT_ROBERTSON_MARIJUANA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-03-08-13-11-19


Pat Robertson: Pot should be legal like alcohol

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson says marijuana should be legalized and treated like alcohol because the government's war on drugs has failed.

The outspoken evangelical Christian and host of "The 700 Club" on the Virginia Beach-based Christian Broadcasting Network he founded said the war on drugs is costing taxpayers billions of dollars. He said people should not be sent to prison for marijuana possession.

The 81-year-old first became a self-proclaimed "hero of the hippie culture" in 2010 when he called for ending mandatory prison sentences for marijuana possession convictions.

"I just think it's shocking how many of these young people wind up in prison and they get turned into hardcore criminals because they had a possession of a very small amount of a controlled substance," Robertson said on his show March 1. "The whole thing is crazy. We've said, `Well, we're conservatives, we're tough on crime.' That's baloney."

Robertson's support for legalizing pot appeared in a New York Times (http://nyti.ms/zMys8R ) story published Thursday. His spokesman confirmed to The Associated Press that Robertson supports legalization with regulation. Robertson was not made available for an interview.

"I really believe we should treat marijuana the way we treat beverage alcohol," Robertson was quoted by the newspaper as saying. "If people can go into a liquor store and buy a bottle of alcohol and drink it at home legally, then why do we say that the use of this other substance is somehow criminal?"

Robertson said he "absolutely" supports ballot measures in Colorado and Washington state that would allow people older than 21 to possess a small amount of marijuana and allow for commercial pot sales. Both measures, if passed by voters, would place the states at odds with federal law, which bans marijuana use of all kinds.

While he supports the measures, Robertson said he would not campaign for them and was "not encouraging people to use narcotics in any way, shape or form."

"I'm not a crusader," he said. "I've never used marijuana and I don't intend to, but it's just one of those things that I think: this war on drugs just hasn't succeeded."

In a statement Thursday, Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, said Robertson's "clearly stated and well-reasoned comments throw a curve ball into the growing debate over legalizing marijuana."

"Defenders of marijuana prohibition ... must be wondering if it's only a matter of time before theirs proves to be a lost cause," he said.

Christian advocacy group Focus on the Family opposes legalization for medical or recreational use, Carrie Gordon Earll, the organization's senior director of government and public policy, said in a statement. The group would not comment specifically on Robertson's statements.

Sixteen states and the District of Columbia have legalized the medical use of marijuana. Fourteen states also have some kind of marijuana decriminalization law, which removes or lowers penalties for possession. Legalization, however, would eliminate penalties and pave the way for regulated sales similar to alcohol.

Robertson's comments will likely help drive cultural conversations on the issue, said Allen St. Pierre, executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

"Whenever somebody of substance and notoriety in this country ... comes out in favor of changing the status quo regarding marijuana, for us and for the reform community, as the kids say, `It is all good," St. Pierre said.

[CosmicCowboy]

I agree

[Blake]

Pat must be high

[Yonivore]

I would go one further; I think it should be decriminalized and unregulated.

[CosmicCowboy]

I would go one further; I think it should be decriminalized and unregulated.

Nope.

legalized and taxed just like alcohol.

[fraga]

“I like weed - I think it's fantastic” • “It ain't no drug, it's just a plant… and if you happen to set it on fire there are some effects.”

[CosmicCowboy]

I am SO set up to be a legal grower.

[2pac > Kobe]

No shit

[Drachen]

I am SO set up to be a legal grower.

You already get enough people asking you for a job then you throw that out? I'll bet your PM box will fill up at record pace now. :lol

[baseline bum]

Wow, I never knew Robertson was on the legalisation bandwagon. It'll be interesting to see how long it takes the right to come around on this issue with Robertson and Paul supporting it.

[leemajors]

Wow, I never knew Robertson was on the legalisation bandwagon. It'll be interesting to see how long it takes the right to come around on this issue with Robertson and Paul supporting it.

Pharmaceutical companies don't want that to happen, and they have very deep pockets.

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Pharmaceutical companies don't want that to happen, and they have very deep pockets.

Law enforcement. They rig the game and then trump up statistics as a matter of course.

[Wild Cobra]

I am SO set up to be a legal grower.

LOL...

Does it grow well where you live?

It grows great here in Oregon.

[Wild Cobra]

Pharmaceutical companies don't want that to happen, and they have very deep pockets.
yep, people may feel so good and still be able to function, they reduce usage of doctors also to maintain prescriptions.

[johnsmith]

I don't know a single "regular" person that disagrees with this. Even my father who is the most conservative human being on the planet and has never done a drug in his life thinks it's dumb to have it illegal.

[Yonivore]

Nope.

legalized and taxed just like alcohol.
Nope. Get the government out of agriculture and personal liberty.

[johnsmith]

Nope. Get the government out of agriculture and personal liberty.

Ok, I see your point, but can we put aside the "right wing" "small government" "our of our business" "personal liberty" stuff when it comes to this?

Whatever way is easier, make weed legal. If they want to tax it...fine. If they want to regulate it....fine.

Just make it so I can go buy weed at the store and get high again.

God I miss college.

[TeyshaBlue]

lol @ get the government out of agriculture.

[Yonivore]

Ok, I see your point, but can we put aside the "right wing" "small government" "our of our business" "personal liberty" stuff when it comes to this?

Whatever way is easier, make weed legal. If they want to tax it...fine. If they want to regulate it....fine.

Just make it so I can go buy weed at the store and get high again.

God I miss college.
You sound like you're Jonesing, bad.

[johnsmith]

You sound like you're Jonesing, bad.

I haven't smoked in 10 years.....you are correct.

[CosmicCowboy]

I haven't smoked in 10 years.....you are correct.

LOL, be careful when you do. It kicks your ass...I just get hella ripped when I occasionally smoke a little now...lost my tolerance...:lol

[johnsmith]

LOL, be careful when you do. It kicks your ass...I just get hella ripped when I occasionally smoke a little now...lost my tolerance...:lol

I would imagine.....and I'm so excited for the day I get too again.

I've often spoke of how I'd likely give up drinking beer all the time and replace it with weed if it was legal....A life without hangovers is my dream.....or better yet, a life where I can fix a hangover by smoking again.


Geez, I wonder if I have a problem?

[Yonivore]

I would imagine.....and I'm so excited for the day I get too again.

I've often spoke of how I'd likely give up drinking beer all the time and replace it with weed if it was legal....A life without hangovers is my dream.....or better yet, a life where I can fix a hangover by smoking again.


Geez, I wonder if I have a problem?
Sorry to be a buzz kill but, I can't imagine anyone looking forward to poisoning their bodies...

Cannabis smoke contains more chemicals (http://www.news.com.au/news/cannabis-more-toxic-than-cigarettes/story-fna7dq6e-1111115200516)


When inhaled directly, marijuana smoke contains 20 times more lung-damaging ammonia and five times as much hydrogen cyanide and nitrogen oxides than cigarette smoke, a team led by David Moir at Health Canada reports.

[Blake]

Nope. Get the government out of agriculture and personal liberty.

If it's packaged and prepared like tobacco cigarettes, absolutely it should be taxed.

If you buy a stalk of it in the fresh produce section next to the lettuce and tomatoes, then no.

[Yonivore]

If it's packaged and prepared like tobacco cigarettes, absolutely it should be taxed.
I don't think cigarettes or alcohol should be taxed at the federal level, either.


If you buy a stalk of it in the fresh produce section next to the lettuce and tomatoes, then no.
Local and state sales tax should apply in both cases.

And, I'm not sure -- under your scenario -- why anyone would go to the trouble of packaging or preparing it "like tobacco cigarette" if that's what's going to get them taxed by the feds. Hell, I'd purposely keep it in the produce section to avoid that.

[Blake]

Sorry to be a buzz kill but, I can't imagine anyone looking forward to poisoning their bodies...

Cannabis smoke contains more chemicals (http://www.news.com.au/news/cannabis-more-toxic-than-cigarettes/story-fna7dq6e-1111115200516)

Off the top of my head, pretty sure that most all smoke coming from burning organic plant materials is toxic or carcinogenic.

[Yonivore]

Off the top of my head, pretty sure that most all smoke coming from burning organic plant materials is toxic or carcinogenic.
Which is probably why it's not a good thing to inhale it.

[Blake]

I don't think cigarettes or alcohol should be taxed at the federal level, either.

:tu

No problem with the tax myself.


Local and state sales tax should apply in both cases.

And, I'm not sure -- under your scenario -- why anyone would go to the trouble of packaging or preparing it "like tobacco cigarette" if that's what's going to get them taxed by the feds. Hell, I'd purposely keep it in the produce section to avoid that.

K, you do that.

[Blake]

Which is probably why it's not a good thing to inhale it.

No doubt.

[Yonivore]

:tu

No problem with the tax myself.
Okay.


K, you do that.
I have no plans to be involved in the cannibis trade.

[AFBlue]

Interesting.

My concerns with the legalization movement center around the "gateway drug" argument and whether we are opening up the discussion for legalization of more addictive and harmful drugs.

I'd be interested to see if there is any research to counter the "gateway drug" claim, because if there's a proven link then I don't think I could support legalization. BTW, I'm not saying I agree with the punitive policy in place for possession of marijuana, but legalization is a radical shift.

[DisAsTerBot]

if marijuana is a "gateway drug" then what the hell are alcohol and tobacco.

idiots.

[Yonivore]

Interesting.

My concerns with the legalization movement center around the "gateway drug" argument and whether we are opening up the discussion for legalization of more addictive and harmful drugs.

I'd be interested to see if there is any research to counter the "gateway drug" claim, because if there's a proven link then I don't think I could support legalization. BTW, I'm not saying I agree with the punitive policy in place for possession of marijuana, but legalization is a radical shift.
I think heroin should be decriminalized, as well. Hell, I'm not opposed to people shooting up Crisco or snorting Ajax, if that's how they get their jollies. Just don't come crying to me when 1) your health fails due to it or 2) you're thrown in prison for life because you killed someone while under the influence.

[George Gervin's Afro]

I think heroin should be decriminalized, as well. Hell, I'm not opposed to people shooting up Crisco or snorting Ajax, if that's how they get their jollies. Just don't come crying to me when 1) your health fails due to it or 2) you're thrown in prison for life because you killed someone while under the influence.

they should be mandated to pay for thier own healthcare

[Yonivore]

they should be mandated to pay for thier own healthcare
Everyone should be responsible for their own health care. We all do things that contribute to a degradation in our own good health.

[George Gervin's Afro]

Everyone should be responsible for their own health care. We all do things that contribute to a degradation in our own good health.

so then let's make them get insurance .. so you don't have to pay.

[Blake]

I have no plans to be involved in the cannibis trade.

K, then you hypothetically do that. :tu

[Yonivore]

so then let's make them get insurance .. so you don't have to pay.
I shouldn't have to, whether they get insurance or not.

[Blake]

Interesting.

My concerns with the legalization movement center around the "gateway drug" argument and whether we are opening up the discussion for legalization of more addictive and harmful drugs.

I'd be interested to see if there is any research to counter the "gateway drug" claim, because if there's a proven link then I don't think I could support legalization. BTW, I'm not saying I agree with the punitive policy in place for possession of marijuana, but legalization is a radical shift.

Why should you care about what other people do to themselves?

[George Gervin's Afro]

I shouldn't have to, whether they get insurance or not.

but you will pay for thier healthcare whether you like it or not.

[Yonivore]

but you will pay for thier healthcare whether you like it or not.
Nothing's inevitable.

[CosmicCowboy]

Nothing's inevitable.

We are all dying.

[Yonivore]

We are all dying.
I'll leave the eternal life and my articles of faith to another thread but, suffice it to say, we're not dying as soon as we used to.

Live to 150, Can You Do It? (http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Longevity/story?id=4544003&page=1#.T1p0PYEgfNo)

Again, nothing is inevitable...the course of events and science can be changed in the blink of an eye.

[Blake]

Nothing's inevitable.

A partisan hack post by Yoni when he shows up in the political forum

[FuzzyLumpkins]

they should be mandated to pay for thier own healthcare

Or even better do what they do now for smokers and allow the actuaries to manage the risk because thats what they do and somehow manage to make buttloads of cash. This is no different.

[leemajors]

if marijuana is a "gateway drug" then what the hell are alcohol and tobacco.

idiots.

:toast

[Wild Cobra Kai]

I am SO set up to be a legal grower.

It won't happen in TX in your or my lifetime. Too many dumbasses in power.